Go Tell it on the Mountain, ELW 290
Refrain
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
1 While shepherds kept their watching o'er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
2 The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus that hailed our savior's birth.
3 Down in a lonely manger the humble Christ was born;
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Devotion
A few weeks ago, a friend and I were on the fifth floor of a downtown hotel looking for the wedding reception. This was our first time in the hotel and nothing was familiar. “Where do we go?” asked my friend. “Listen,” I replied, “I heard the sounds of laughter, and talking and music coming from over there.” Sure enough, we walked through doors into a grand celebration. It was a spectacular evening.
Advent is a time of waiting with a sure and certain hope. But sometimes we are not quite sure where to go so we can enter into the grand and glorious celebration of Jesus’ coming, both the celebration of his birthday and his coming to finalize his kingdom.
When we feel confused, it is good to listen to the music. When we hear the music, we will find our way. This is why I think that our hymn for this Third Sunday in Advent is so appropriate. Who can miss the joy and celebration in the music?
“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!”
“Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.”
Prayer
We are getting close to Christmas. Help us to hear the music, O Lord, so that we might enter into the glorious celebration of your incarnation. Amen!